Landing Platform, Helicopter
Encyclopedia
LPH is the hull classification
used by a number of the world's navies to designate a type of amphibious warfare
ship designed primarily to operate as a launch and recovery platform for helicopters and other VTOL aircraft. As such they are considered a type of helicopter carrier
.
Under the NATO STANAG
document for reporting vessels, LPH is a short form designator used for "Amphibious Assault Ship, Helicopter" defined as a "large helicopter carrier" for carry and deploying around 1,800 assault troops using its own aircraft but for which use of landing craft is "not a principle function". For ships of this hull classification in the Royal Navy LPH is a direct acronym for "Landing Platform Helicopter" while the United States Navy referred to its vessels within this classification as "Amphibious Assault Ships." Regardless of the terminology all vessels classified as an LPH possess essentially similar capabilities.
The Royal Navy
also used the term "Commando Carrier" which it applied to aircraft carriers converted to helicopter only operations. The RN currently operates only a single ship which is classifies as an LPH, .
France operates the , which has a helicopter deck
and well deck.
The LPH classification was used by the United States Navy
for the amphibious assault ship
s of the Iwo Jima class
and three converted Essex class aircraft carriers
. No ships of this classification are currently in active service with the United States Navy having been replaced with multi-purpose ships classified under NATO naming conventions as Landing Helicopter Dock or Landing Helicopter Assault ships.
Royal Navy
Royal Navy
"Commando Carriers and "Amphibious Helicopter Carrier"s – 1956 only, emergency minimal conversion for Suez Crisis
- Broken up – 1956 only, emergency minimal conversion for Suez Crisis
Colossus-class aircraft carrier - Broken up – 1962-1972 Converted - Converted to Commando carrier in 1961/62. Decommissioned 1972 and scrapped. – 1960-1980 Converted Centaur-class aircraft carrier. Converted to an anti-submarine warfare carrier 1979. Damaged by a fire she was not fit for emergency use in Falklands War and later broken up. – 1973-1976 Converted Centaur-class aircraft carrier after which she was equipped as a helicopter Anti-submarine warfare carrier
and later still as a Sea Harrier equipped VSTOL light carrier which continued after selling to the Indian Navy. – 1998 Designed and built as a commando carrier based on the Invincible class STOVL carrier hull, Currently in service. - Equipped and tasked as a commando carrier while Ocean is in refit; primary duty as a fleet carrier; will be retired soon afterwards.
Republic of Korea Navy
United States Navy
Hull classification symbol
The United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration use hull classification symbols to identify their ship types and each individual ship within each type...
used by a number of the world's navies to designate a type of amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
ship designed primarily to operate as a launch and recovery platform for helicopters and other VTOL aircraft. As such they are considered a type of helicopter carrier
Helicopter carrier
Helicopter carrier is a term for an aircraft carrier whose primary purpose is to operate helicopters. The term is sometimes used for both ASW carriers and amphibious assault ships....
.
Under the NATO STANAG
STANAG
STANAG is the NATO abbreviation for Standardization Agreement, which sets up processes, procedures, terms, and conditions for common military or technical procedures or equipment between the member countries of the alliance. Each NATO state ratifies a STANAG and implements it within their own...
document for reporting vessels, LPH is a short form designator used for "Amphibious Assault Ship, Helicopter" defined as a "large helicopter carrier" for carry and deploying around 1,800 assault troops using its own aircraft but for which use of landing craft is "not a principle function". For ships of this hull classification in the Royal Navy LPH is a direct acronym for "Landing Platform Helicopter" while the United States Navy referred to its vessels within this classification as "Amphibious Assault Ships." Regardless of the terminology all vessels classified as an LPH possess essentially similar capabilities.
The Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
also used the term "Commando Carrier" which it applied to aircraft carriers converted to helicopter only operations. The RN currently operates only a single ship which is classifies as an LPH, .
France operates the , which has a helicopter deck
Helicopter deck
A helicopter deck is a helicopter pad on the deck of a ship, usually located on the stern and always clear of obstacles that would prove hazardous to a helicopter landing...
and well deck.
The LPH classification was used by the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
for the amphibious assault ship
Amphibious assault ship
An amphibious assault ship is a type of amphibious warfare ship employed to land and support ground forces on enemy territory by an amphibious assault...
s of the Iwo Jima class
Iwo Jima class amphibious assault ship
The Iwo Jima class amphibious assault ships of the United States Navy were the first amphibious assault ships designed and built as dedicated helicopter carriers, capable of operating up to 20 helicopters to carry up to 1,800 marines ashore. They were named for battles featuring the United States...
and three converted Essex class aircraft carriers
Essex class aircraft carrier
The Essex class was a class of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy, which constituted the 20th century's most numerous class of capital ships with 24 vessels built in both "short-hull" and "long-hull" versions. Thirty-two were originally ordered; however as World War II wound down, six were...
. No ships of this classification are currently in active service with the United States Navy having been replaced with multi-purpose ships classified under NATO naming conventions as Landing Helicopter Dock or Landing Helicopter Assault ships.
Royal NavyRoyal NavyThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
"Commando Carriers and "Amphibious Helicopter Carrier"s – 1956 only, emergency minimal conversion for Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
- Broken up – 1956 only, emergency minimal conversion for Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
Colossus-class aircraft carrier - Broken up – 1962-1972 Converted - Converted to Commando carrier in 1961/62. Decommissioned 1972 and scrapped. – 1960-1980 Converted Centaur-class aircraft carrier. Converted to an anti-submarine warfare carrier 1979. Damaged by a fire she was not fit for emergency use in Falklands War and later broken up. – 1973-1976 Converted Centaur-class aircraft carrier after which she was equipped as a helicopter Anti-submarine warfare carrier
Anti-submarine warfare carrier
An ASW carrier is a type of small aircraft carrier whose primary role is to hunt and destroy submarines...
and later still as a Sea Harrier equipped VSTOL light carrier which continued after selling to the Indian Navy. – 1998 Designed and built as a commando carrier based on the Invincible class STOVL carrier hull, Currently in service. - Equipped and tasked as a commando carrier while Ocean is in refit; primary duty as a fleet carrier; will be retired soon afterwards.
Republic of Korea NavyRepublic of Korea NavyThe Republic of Korea Navy or the ROK Navy is the branch of the South Korean armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations and amphibious landing operations. The ROK Navy includes the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, which is a quasi-autonomous organization...
- Dokdo class amphibious assault ship
- ROKS Dokdo (LPH 6111) – Currently in service.
United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
- USS Block Island (LPH-1)USS Block Island (CVE-106)USS Block Island was a Commencement Bay class escort carrier of the United States Navy. She was the second ship to carry her name, done in honor of the first one, being launched 12 days after the original was sunk....
(formerly CVE-106) – – Conversion to LPH cancelled – – First ship to be designed and built from the keel up as an amphibious assault shipAmphibious assault shipAn amphibious assault ship is a type of amphibious warfare ship employed to land and support ground forces on enemy territory by an amphibious assault...
. – Iwo Jima-class - USS Boxer (LPH-4)USS Boxer (CV-21)USS Boxer was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. She was the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for a British ship captured by the Americans during the War of 1812...
(ex CV-21) – Converted straight deck - USS Princeton (LPH-5)USS Princeton (CV-37)USS Princeton was one of 24 s built during and shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for the Revolutionary War Battle of Princeton...
(ex CV-37) – Converted straight deck Essex-class aircraft carrier - USS Thetis Bay (LPH-6)USS Thetis Bay (CVE-90)USS Thetis Bay was a of the United States Navy. Though not the last of the class to be built, she was the last Casablanca class hull to be scrapped....
(ex CVE-90, ex CVHA-1) – Minimal conversion – Iwo Jima-class - USS Valley Forge (LPH-8)USS Valley Forge (CV-45)USS Valley Forge was one of 24 s built during and shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the first US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for Valley Forge, the 1777–1778 winter encampment of General George Washington's Continental Army...
(ex CV-45) – Converted straight deck Essex-class aircraft carrier – Iwo Jima-class – Iwo Jima-class – Towed hulk on loan to US Army launching targets for THAADTerminal High Altitude Area DefenseTerminal High Altitude Area Defense , formerly Theater High Altitude Area Defense, is a United States Army system to shoot down short, medium, and intermediate ballistic missiles in their terminal phase using a hit-to-kill approach. The missile carries no warhead but relies on the kinetic energy...
Missiles at Pacific Missile Range Facility. – Iwo Jima-class – Iwo Jima-class
See also
- Amphibious assault shipAmphibious assault shipAn amphibious assault ship is a type of amphibious warfare ship employed to land and support ground forces on enemy territory by an amphibious assault...
- Helicopter carrierHelicopter carrierHelicopter carrier is a term for an aircraft carrier whose primary purpose is to operate helicopters. The term is sometimes used for both ASW carriers and amphibious assault ships....
- List of amphibious warfare ships